Bag closing and sealing machine



Dec. 11, 1934. H. ANDERSON BAG CLOSING AND SEALING'MACHINB Filed June 7, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 00000OOOQOOOOOOOOQOOOOOOO Q 2: AM mw g A n 2: AU R IN VENTOR HELMER ANDER$0N ATTORNEYS Dec. 11, 1934. H. ANDERSON BAG CLOSING AND SEALING MACHINE Filed June '7, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 MN H To N. 2" MM V W m: A m M OI/ L E H.

Dec. 11, 1934. H. ANDERSON BAG CLOSING AND SEALING MACHINE File d June 7, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOH HELMER ANDEH5ON @172 1/24 M I A-rromuzys 11, 1934. H. ANDERSON BAG CLOSING AND SEALING MACHINE 4 Filed June 7, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR HELMER ANDERSON ATTORNEY$ Decxll, 1934.

H. ANDERSO N BAG CLOSING AND SEALING MACHINE Filed June '7, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR H ELMER ANDERSON ATTORNEYS Dec. 11, 1934. H. ANDERSON BAG CLOSING AND SEALING MACHINE Filed June '7, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR HELMER ANDERSON W204,

152.4 MW ATTORNBYQ Dec. 11., 1934'.

H. ANDERSON BAG CLOSING AND SEALING MA CHINE 7 Sheets-Shed '7 Filed June 7, 1932 I N VE NT'OR 5 N Mn 0 N s n H o E I D M N A m s M l L ow m Patented Dec. 11, 1934 iJNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,984,049 BAG CLOSING AND SEALING MACHINE Application June 7, 1932, Serial No. 615,827

23 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bag closing and sealing machines, and more particularly to a sealing mechanism adapted for use in connection with a machine of .the general character disclosed in my Patent No. 1,772,824.

An object of the invention is to provide a mechanism applicable for use in connection with a bag closing machine to apply a suitable gum or adhesive to a fold of the partially closed bag top and to a wall of the bag body, and to subsequently fold the gummed portion of the bag top into sealing engagement with the gummed wall of the bag body to seal the bag top.

A further object is to provide a sealing mechanism adapted for use in connection with a bag closing machine wherein the walls of the bag top are previously folded into a plurality of transverse folds, to suitably gum a surface of one of the walls of the partially folded bag top and press said gummed surface into sealing engagement with the bag body to thereby substantially hermetically seal the bag mouth.

Other objects of the invention reside in the specific construction of the sealing mechanism which comprises a pair of pressing rollers between which the partially folded bag top must pass, prior to receiving a coating of gum; in the means provided for gumming the partially folded bag top walls and a portion of the upper wall of the bag body; in the means provided for making the final fold in the bag top walls and retaining said folded walls in sealing relation until the gum has had ample time to set; and, in the general construction of the sealing mechanism whereby it may readily be used in connection with a bag closing machine of the type which folds the bag top walls into a plurality of transverse folds; in the operation of closing the bag mouth, said mechanism having means for gumming the final fold of the bag top before it is folded into engagement with machine comprising means for closing the open the bag body.

Other objects of theinvention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a bag closing machine capable of partially closing the bag top by transversely folding the bag top walls;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the lines 3-3 of Figures 1 and 4, showing the driving means for the sealing mechanism; I

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a portion of the machine partially in section, showing the means for gumming the bag top;

' Figure 5 is a sectional plan view substantially on the line 55 of Figure 1, showing the gumming wheel, and also the rollers for pressing together the partially folded bag top walls before engaging the gumming wheel;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 4, showing only a portion of the machine, and the means for guiding the partially folded bag top walls into the spiral groove of the folding member;

Figure 7 is a detail sectional elevation on the line 7-7 of Figure 1, showing the means for holding the closed bag top walls in sealing engagement with the bag body; a

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure '7, showing the gumming wheel in contact with a wall of a bag top and also with the upper wall of the bag body;

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 9--9 of Figure 7, showing the finger adapted to engage the partiallyfolded bag top and guide it into the folding member;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a bag showing portions of the bag top walls and the bag body gummed to secure the folded bag top walls in closed position; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view showing a bag with its top completely closed and sealed.

In the selected embodiment of the invention here shown, there is illustrated in Figure 2, for purposes of disclosure, a portion of a bag closing tops of flexible containers such as paper bags. The; portion of the machine shown in Figure 2 is similar in construction to the corresponding part of the machine disclosed in .my patent, No. 1,772,824, hereinbefore mentioned and it is therefore thought unnecessary to herein describe the same in detail.

The machine comprises a bed plate 2 which constitutes the bottom of a conveyer having side walls 3 and 4, the former preferably extending substantially the full length of the machine, as shown. A conveyer chain 5 is mounted upon suitable sprockets 6 and 7 adapted to be intermittently" driven by a suitable mechanism, not shown, and

which mechanism operatively connects it with a main operating shaft 8 having an operative connection with a drive shaft 9. The conveyer chain 5 is provided with a plurality of flights 11 adapted to engage the bags or containers delivered to the conveyer and thereby feed them lengthwise through the machine.

The machine shown in Figure 2 is provided with means for folding the walls of the open bag top into a plurality of transverse folds, and com= prises a plurality of mechanisms located at stations A and B. These mechanisms are shown and described in detail in my patent above mentioned, and form no part of the present invention.

The bags are delivered to the novel sealing mechanism herein disclosed from station B, in substantially the manner shown in Figure 10, it being understood, that the walls of the partially folded bag top and bag body are not gummed until they pass through the sealing mechanism. The novel sealing mechanism herein disclosed comprises a pair of pressure rollers 12 and 13, mounted upon upright shafts 14 and 15, respectively, as shown in Figures 3 and 5. The shaft 15 is rotatably mounted in a fixed bracket 16 provided upon a plate 20 mounted upon suitable supports 30 and 40 secured to the bed plate of the machine, as best shown in Figure 3. The shaft 14 is supported in a bracket 17 pivotally' mounted upon a stud 18 secured to the plate 20, and having an arm 19 adapted to be engaged by a suitable spring 21, which constantly urges the roller 12 in a direction towards the roller 13. The spring 21 is interposed between the arm 19 and a fixed lug 22 on the plate 20, and an adjusting screw 23 is mounted in a lug 24 on the plate 20 to provide means for limiting the movement of the roller 12 in a direction towards the roller 13.

The rollers 12 and 13 are connected together for rotation in opposite directions by suitable gears 25 and 26 secured to the shafts thereof, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. A bevel gear 2'7 is secured to the gear 26 and meshes with a bevel pinion 28, which is shown driven by a. pair of spur gears 29 and 31, secured to the shafts 32 and 33, respectively, as shown in Figure l. The shaft 32 is mounted in a suitable bearing bracket 34 secured to the plate 20, and the shaft 33 is mounted in suitable bearings 35 and 36, the former being shown integrally formed with the bracket 16 supporting the shaft 14, and the latter being formed upon an upright post 37 on the plate 20. A suitable guide 38 directs the partially folded bag top from station B into engagement with the pressure rollers 12 and 13, from whence the bag top is delivered into an upright guide slot 39 provided on the plate 20, as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The means for gumming a surface of the partially folded bag top and also a surface of a wall of the bag body, is best shown in Figures 1 and 4, and comprises a receptacle 41 adapted to contain a suitable gum. One end of the receptacle 41 is pivotally supported upon the shaft 33 between the bearings 35 and 36, and a suitable stop screw 42 is mounted on a bracket 43 provided upon a side wall of the receptacle 41, as shown in Figure 1. This stop screw is adapted to engage a. rib 44 of the post 3'7 supporting the bearings 36, so as to provide means for vertically adjusting the opposite end of the receptacle 41, as will readily be understood by reference to Figure 4. A suitable gumming wheel 45 is mounted upon a shaft 46 rotatably supported in suitable bearings 47 secured to the walls of the receptacle 41, as shown in Figure 1.

The gumming wheel 45 is shown having a beveled side face 48 adapted to engage a surface of the walls of the partially folded bag top 49, and the periphery of the gumming wheel is adapted to engage and gum a portion of the surface of an upper wall of the bag body, as best shown in Figure 8. The gumming wheel operates in a slot provided in the end and bottom walls of the receptacle 41, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, so that the periphery and beveled face 48 of the gumming wheel come in direct contact with the gum in the receptacle. The wheel 45 thus conveys gum from'the receptacle 41 onto a surface of the partially folded bag top, and also onto a surface of the top wall of the bag body, as indicated in Figure 10. I

A folding member 50 has an upright portion 51 provided with a strap end portion 52 bent at right angles, as shown in Figure 5, and secured to an upright flange 53 provided upon the plate 20. Suitable bolts 54 may secure the strap portion 52 to the flange 53, as shown. The upright portion 51 of the member 50 is spaced from the adjacent side of the gumming wheel 45 and is preferably shaped so that its inner face 55 will be disposed substantially parallel to the beveled face 48 of the wheel, as shown in Figure 8. By thus shaping the upright portion 51 of the member 50, the adjacent wall surface of the partially folded bag top will be held firmly in engagement with the gumm-ed surface 48 of the gumming wheel so that said surface will receive a coating of gum, as indicated at 56 in Figure 10. At the same time, a coating of gum will be applied to the upper portion of the bag body, as indicated at 57, When the bag top leaves the gumming wheel 45, it enters a spiral groove 58 provided in the member 50, which acts to turn the partially folded bag top walls over into engagement with the gummed surface 57 of the bag body, as will be readily understood by reference to Figures 9 and 11. A guide bar 59 is secured to the plate 20 at the opposite side of the guide slot 39, to direct the partially folded bag top into the space provided between the portion 51 of the member 50 and the wheel 45, as shown in Figure 5.

A strap 60 has one end secured to the upright portion 51 of the member 50, and has its opposite end adjustably secured to a bracket '70 by means of a bolt or screw 80, whereby the portion 51 adjacent to the gumming wheel 45, may be slightly adjusted to and from the wheel to vary the space between the member and wheel.

In order that the bag top may be accurately folded into engagement with the upper wall of the bag body, a pivoted member or finger 61 is adjustably mounted upon an arm 62 by suitable bolts 63, as shown in Figure 6. The arm 62 is pivotally supported upon a pin 64 carried by a fixed bracket 65 which overhangs the conveyer, as shown. A link 66 operatively connects the arm 62 with the upper end of a lever 67 which is adjustably secured to an operating arm 68 by suitable bolts 69 received in a slot 71. The arm 68 and lever 67 are shown mounted upon a stud 72 supported in a bracket '73 adjustably secured to the machine frame, as shown in Figure l. The arm 68 has a depending extension '74 carrying a suitable cam roller 75 adapted to travel in a grooved cam 76, secured to the main operating shaft 8. The finger 61 operates in timed relation to the travel of the bags through the machine and acts to engage the leading end portion of the partially folded bag top and move it to the position shown in Figure 9, so that when the bag top passes into the spiral groove 58 of the member 50, it will be folded smoothly into engagement with the upper wall of the bag top, as shown in Figure 11. The cam 76 is adjustably secured to a disk 90 non-rotatably mounted upon the shaft 8. This disk is adapted for longitudinal adjustment on the shaft by means of a suitable set screw 100. The bracket 65 is also adjustable lengthwise of the machine whereby the finger 61 may be adjusted to engage the bag top at the proper point, as the latter leaves the gumming wheel, to thereby guide the bag top into the groove 58 of the folding member 50.

The means for driving the pressure rollers 12 and 13 and the gumming wheel 45, is best shown in Figures 3 and 4, and comprises a chain 78 mounted upon a sprocket 79 secured to the shaft 32, and upon a sprocket 81 secured to a shaft 82 shown mounted in suitable bearings 83 and 84 secured to the machine frame 85. A bevel gear 86 is secured to one end of the shaft 82 and meshes with a pinion 87 secured to a shaft 88 mounted in a bearing bracket 89 which also is shown secured to the machine frame. A sprocket 91 is secured to the shaft 88 and has a chain 92 connecting it with a sprocket 93 secured to the drive shaft 9. By thus operatively connecting the pressure rollers 12 and 13 and the gumming wheel 45 with the drive shaft 9, the above parts will rotate continuously, when the machine is operating.

The gumming wheel 45, it will be noted by reference to Figures 1 and 4, is driven from the shaft 33 by means of a chain 94 mounted upon a sprocket 96 secured to the shaft 46, and upon a sprocket 97 secured to the shaft 33. The sprocket wheel 96 is not fixedly mounted upon the shaft '46, and is capable of relatively rotating upon said shaft when the rotation of the chain 94 is reversed. To permit such relative rotation of the sprocket 96 upon the shaft 46, the hub 98 of the sprocket 96 is shown provided with suitable ratchet teeth 99 adapted to engage a pin 101 secured to the shaft 46. A spring 102 constantly urges the hub 98 of the sprocket 96 into engagement with the pin 101, as will readily be understood by reference to Figure 1. By thus mounting the sprocket 96 upon the shaft 46, the gumming wheel will be positively driven by the chain 94 when the machine is operated, but should the operator manually rotate the drive shaft 9 in the reverse direction, the hub 98 of the sprocket 96 will idle upon the shaft 46. This is desirable in order to prevent the gumming wheel from conveying portions of the gum out of the receptacle 41 and discharge it onto parts of the machine, in the event that its direction of rotation is reversed. It is to be understood that the edges of the slot provided in the end and bottom walls of the receptacle 41, closely engage the gumming faces of the gumming wheel and act as scrapers to prevent too much gum from being carried from the receptacle by the gumming wheel. If desired, suitable scrapers or wipers may be provided within the receptacle adapted to engage the surfaces of the wheel to prevent excessive amounts of gum from being delivered onto. the bag walls.

A flexible member 103 is shown positioned adjacent to the gumming wheel 45 and has an upturned portion secured between the offset end portion 52 of the member 50 and the adjacent flange 53 of the plate 20. This member is adapted to engage and support the top of the bag while the latter is fed past the gumming wheel 45.

Means is provided for holding the sealed bag top walls in sealing relation, as shown in Figure 11, after the bag top leaves the spiral member 50, so as to allow the gum ample time to set before the bag tops are released. Such means is shown in Figures 1, 5, and 7, and comprises a bar 104 having one end secured to a pivot pin 105 supported in brackets 106 secured to the side walls of the conveyer. The bar 104 extends lengthwise of the conveyer and is arranged over the latter in such a manner that the folded bag tops will engage the bottom of said bar, as the bags are fed from the end of the folding member 50, onto a suitable receiving conveyer 107 longitudinally aligned with the conveyer of themachine.

As shown in Figure 7, a spring 108 is mounted in a bracket 109 provided at the free end of the bar 104 and functions to exert a downward pressure upon the bar to firmly hold it in contact with the folded tops of the bags as they are fed therebeneath. A pressure bar 111 is also shown mounted over the conveyer 107 and is provided with springs 112 adapted to exert a downward pressure thereagainst whereby said bar will be similarly held against the folded tops of the bags delivered onto the conveyer 107. Thus, the closed bag top walls will be temporarily retained in sealing relation until the gum has set sufficiently to permit the sealed bags to be discharged from the machine without danger of the bag tops unfolding.

A small conveyer section 113 is preferably provided at the tail end of the machine conveyer, as shown in Figure 7, and functions to feed the bags from the end of the conveyer chain onto the receiving conveyer 107. The conveyer 113 operates vided for taking up slack in the conveyer belt 113,

as shown in Figure 7.

In the drawings I have shown a sealing mechanism comprising means for gumming a surface of a wall of the bag top and also a surface of a wall of the bag body, but it is to be understood that in some instances it may be found desirable to gum but one of said wall surfaces, it being understood that sufilcient gum must be applied to cause the folded bag top to become firmly united with a wall of the bag body, when brought into contact therewith.

In the operation of the novel bag sealing mechanism herein disclosed, the partially closed bags are fed between the pressure rollers 12 and 13 from a suitable sourcesuch, for example, as the bag closing machine partially illustrated in Figure 2. In some instances, it may be desirable to manually close the bag tops by providing a plurality of folds therein and then subsequently feeding the partially folded bag tops between the pressure rollers, as hereinbefore described. As the bags pass through the sealing mechanism, the bevel face 48 and the periphery of the gumming wheel 45 will engage a surface of a wall of the partially folded surfaces. The partially folded bag tops are then folded downwardly into engagement with their respective bag bodies, as shown in Figure 9, in which position the folded bag top walls are temporarily retained by the action of the bars 104 and 111, as shown in Figure 7, and as hereinbefore described. By thus holding the folded bag top walls in engagement with the upper walls of the bag bodies, the gum will set sufficiently before the bags are discharged from the machine to permit free handling of the bags without danger of the tops thereof opening.

The apparatus is very simple and inexpensive and may readily be applied to a machine of the general character disclosed in my patent above mentioned. By reference to Figure 11, it will be noted that no sealing strips or tape is used to secure the folded bag top walls in sealing relation. This is accomplished by simply gumming surfaces of the partially folded bag tops and surfaces of the upper walls of the bag bodies, as shown in Figure 10, and uniting said surfaces. When the bag tops are thus closed and sealed, they will be substantially leak-proof and may readily and conveniently be handled without danger of the contents of the bag sifting or leaking therefrom- I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with means for transversely folding the walls of an open bag top to close the bag, of means for gumming a surface of a wall of the partially closed bag top and a surface of a wall of the bag body, and means for folding the gummed surface of the bag top flatly into engagement with the gummed surface of the wall of the bag body to thereby seal the bag top.

2. The combination with means for transversely folding the walls of an open bag top to close the bag, of means for simultaneously gumming a surface of a wall of the partially closed bag top and a surface of a wall of the bag body, and means for folding the gummed surface of the bag top flatly into engagement with the gummed surface of the wall of the bag body to seal the bag top.

3. The combination with a bag closing machine having means for transversely folding the walls of an open bag top to close the bag, of means for gumming a surface of the wall of the partially folded bag top and an adjacent surface of a wall of the bag body, means for folding the gummed surface of the bag top into engagement with the gummed surface of the wall of the bag'body to seal the bag, and yieldable means for temporarily holding said gummed surfaces in sealing relation until the gum has set.

4. In combination with a bag closing machine having means for transversely folding the walls of an open bag top, of means for applying pressure to said partially folded bag top walls whfle held in substantially an upright position, means for simultaneously gumming a surface' of the partially folded bag top walls and an adjacent surface of a wall of the bag body, and a member having a spiral groove positioned to receive the gummed bag top walls from saidgumming means and folding them flatly into engagement with the gummed surface of the bag body to thereby secure the bag top walls in closing relation.

5. The combination with a machine adapted to close the open top of a bag by providing a plurality of folds therein, of a sealing mechanism adapted to receive the partially folded bag top.

from said closing machine, said sealing mechanism comprising a gmnming wheel adapted to engage and gum a surface of the partially folded bag top walls, said wheeralso engaging and applying sum to an adjacent surface of a wall of the bag body, a spiral recess for receiving and folding said gummed surfaces into sealing engagement with each other to seal the bag top, and means for i 5 holding said "gummed surfaces in sealing relation until the gum has set.

6. The combination with a machine adapted to close the open top of a bag by providing a plurality of transverse folds therein, of a sealing l0 mechanism adapted to receive the partially folded bag top from said closing machine, said sealing mechanism comprising a gumming wheel having a beveled side face adapted to engage and gum a surface of the partially folded bag top walls, 15 and the periphery of said wheel simultaneously engagin and gumming an adjacent surface of a wall of the bag body, and a spiral recess receiving and folding said gummed surfaces flatly into engagement with each other to seal the bag top.

7. The combination with a machine adapted to close the open top of a bag by making a plurality of transverse folds therein, of a sealing mechanism adapted to receive the partially folded bag top from said closing machine, said sealing mech-' 25 anism comprising means for feeding the bags, a gumming wheel having a beveled side face adapted to engage and guma sufface of the partially folded bag top walls, and the periphery of said wheel being adapted to engage and apply gum to 30 anadjacent surface of a wall of the bag body, means for driving said wheel in timed relation to the travel of the bags, and a spiral member for folding said gummed surfaces into engagement with each other to seal the bag top.

8. The combination with a machine adapted to close the open top of a bag by providing a plurality of transverse folds therein, of a sealing mechanism adapted to receive a partially folded bag top from said closing machine, said sealing 40 mechanism comprising pressure rollers between which the partially folded bag top is fed and compressed, a guide adapted to receive the bag top from said rollers, a gumming wheel adapted to engage and gum a surface of the partially folded 45 bag top and also a surface of a wall of the bag body, a member mounted adjacent to said wheel and having a groove therein adapted to receive. the partially folded gummed bag top and fold it into engagement with the gummed wall surface 50 of the bag body to seal the bag, and a finger movably mounted adjacent to said member adapted to engage and guide the partially folded gummed bag top walls into closing position during the final folding of the bag top.

9. The combination with a. machine adapted to close the open top of a bag by providing a plurality of transverse folds therein, of a sealing mechanism adapted to receive the partially folded bag tops from said closing machine, said sealing mechanism comprising pressure rollers adapted to receive and compress the partially folded bag top walls, a gumming wheel, means for guiding said partially folded bag top walls from the pressure rollers into engagement with said gumming 60 wheel, means for supply gum to said wheel, an upright wall member positioned in spaced relation to said wheel and between which and said wheel the bag tops are fed, whereby surfaces of the partially folded bag top and the bag body are 70 gummed, a member mounted adjacent to said .wheel adapted to receive the gummed bag top and into folded position against the bag body simultaneously as the bag top enters said folding member, and means for holding the sealed bag top in position while the gum is setting.

10. A gumming and sealing machine comprising a pair of vertically disposed pressure rollers, means for driving said rollers, means for feeding a partially foldedbag top between said rollers whereby said top is compressed, an upright guide into which the bag top is fed from said rollers, a gumming wheel mounted at the discharge end of said guide adapted to engage and gum a surface of the partially folded bag top, and also a surface of the top wall of the bag body, a member adjustably mounted adjacent to said wheel, and adapted to guide the bag top into engagement with said wheel, said member having a spiral groove into which the gummed bag top is fed from the gumming wheel, and said spiral member operating to fold the gummed surface of the partially folded bag top into engagement with the gummed surface of the bag body, and a member pivotally and adjustably supported over said spiral member and operating in timed relation to the'traveling movement of the bags through the machine to engage and guide the partially folded bag top into position against the bag body.

11. In an apparatus for closing and sealing filled bags, means for advancing the bags, means for transversely folding the Walls of the open bag top into a plurality of folds, means for pressing said folds into flatwise relation while supported in an upright position with respect to the bag body, means for gumming a surface of the bag, a member having a spiral passage adapted to receive said partially folded bag top from said gumming means, and means mounted above the bag and movable in a direction crosswise of said bag advancing means adapted to engage and guide the partially folded bag top into said passage.

12. In an apparatus for closing and sealing filled bags, means for advancing the bags, means for transversely folding the walls of the open bag top into a plurality of fiat folds, a vertically disposed guide adapted to receive said partially folded bag top, means for gumming a surface of the partially folded bag top, a member having a spiral passage positioned to receive the partially folded bag top from said gumming means and fold it flatly against the bag body in sealing relation, while the bag is advanced through said passage, and means movable in a vertical plane disposed at substantially right angles to the line of travel of the bag adapted to engage and guide the partially folded bag top into said passage.

13. In an apparatus for closing and sealing filled bags, means for advancing the bags, means for transversely folding the walls of the open bag top into a plurality of folds, means for gumming a surface of the partially folded bag top,

a member having a spiral passage for receiving said partially folded bag top, and a member mounted for swinging movement crosswise of said bag advancing means adapted to engage and guide the partially folded bag top into said passage.

14. In an apparatus for closing and sealing filled bags, means for transversely folding the walls of the open bag top into a plurality of flat folds, means for gumming a surface of said folds,-

a member having a spiral passage positioned to 'receive the partially folded bag top from said gumming means, and a member pivotally supported over theline of travel of the bags and operable in timed relation thereto to engage and guide the partially folded bag top into said passage whereby the bag top is folded flatly against an upper horizontal wall portion of the bag body.

15. In an apparatus for closing and sealing filled bags, means for advancing the bags, means for transversely folding the walls of the open bag top into a plurality of folds, means for gumming surfaces of the partially folded bag top, a memher having a spiral passage positioned to receive the partialy folded bag top from said gumming means, and pivoted means adapted to 'engage and guide the partially folded bag top into position in said spiral passage whereby the latter may fold it into sealing engagement with the bag body. I

16. In an apparatus for closing and sealing filled bags, means for advancing the bags, means for transversely folding the walls of the open bag top into a plurality of folds, means for gumming surfaces of the partially folded bag top, a member having an elongated, spiral passage therein positioned to receive said partially folded bag top, while supported in substantially an upright position, and a pivoted member adapted to engage the partially folded bag top and guide it into position in said spiral passage whereby it is folded into sealing engagement with the bag body.

17. The combination with a machine having means for folding the open top of a bag into a plurality of transverse folds, of a sealing mechanism adapted to receive the partially folded bag top and comprising a gumming wheel having a face arranged to engage and gum a surface of the partially folded bag top, and a spiral passage into which the partially folded, gummed bag top is fed from said gumming wheel, and means movable over' the line of travel of the bag adapted to engage and accurately guide the partially folded bag top into said passage, whereby it is folded flatly against the bag body.

18. The combination with a machine having means for closing the open top of a filled bag by folding it into a plurality of transverse folds, of a sealing mechanism comprising means for, compressing the walls of the partially folded bag top into flatwise relation, a gumming wheel, means for V into engagement with the bag body, and a pivoted member for guiding the bag top into said spiral passage to assure accurate and uniform folding of the bag top.

19. In an apparatus for closing and sealing filled bags, means for advancing the bags, means for transversely folding the walls of the open bag tops into a plurality of folds, a mechanism for gumming surfaces of the partially folded bag tops, means positioned to receive the partially folded bag tops from said gumming mechanism, and'a pivoted member adapted to engage each partially'folded bag top and cooperating with said receiving means to fold it into sealing engagement with the bag .body.

z 20. In an apparatus for closing and sealing filled bags, means for advancing the bags, means for transversely folding the walls of the open bag tops into a plurality of folds, a mechanism for gumming surfaces of the partially folded bag tops, and means positioned to receive the partially folded bag tops from said gumming mechanism and comprising a member mounted for pivotal fold it into sealing engagement with ther-bag bod" l 21. In an apparatus forclosing and seaung filled bags, means for advancingthef'bags, means for transversely folding-the walls of. the open bag tops into a plurality of folds; a mechanism for gumming' surfaces of the partially-folded bag tops, and means positioned to'receive the par tially folded bag tops from said gumming mechanism and comprisinga member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis disposed above and lengthwise of the line of travel bf the bags, whereby said memberwwill swingin a direction substantially at' right angles to-the direction of movement of. the bags, said pivoted member being adapted .to engage eaclr gummed bag-top and cooperating with said receiving ineansto-fold it into sealing. engagement with the-bag body.-

22: In an apparatus for closingfland sealing filled: bags, 7 means for. advancing the bags, means for transversely folding the walls of the open bag tops into a plurality of folds, a mechanism for gumming surfaces of the partially folded bag tops, means positioned" to receive the partially folded bag tops from said gumming mechanism and comprising a member mounted for pivotal movement ini adirection transversely to the traveling movement of thebags and adapted'to engage each partially folded bag top, said pivoted member cooperating with saidreceiving means to fold the gummed bag-top into sealing engagement with the bag body, andipressure means for temporarilyretaining the-bag.top walls in sealing engagement with thebag body-to allow. the gum to set. a

23. ha machine for closing paper bags provided with: a body portionhaving a horizontal wall and a top portion, means for transversely folding the walls of the top portion, means for supporting a portion of said horizontal wall, means for gumming a surface of the horizontal wall of the. body portion, and means for folding the folded top portion into engagement withthe gummed surface of the horizontal wall, thereby to adhesively secure the top portion to the body portion.

N HELMER. ANDERSON. 

